Hot Topics:

Boulder Valley aims for fewer car trips to schools

By Amy Bounds Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
09/10/2012 08:39:05 PM MDT

Updated:
09/11/2012 04:45:30 PM MDT

Jessica Booth, a sixth-grader, snaps on her helmet to ride home after school at Casey Middle School in Boulder on Monday. Principal Alison Boggs said so many students rode to school last year that she had to add more bike racks.
(
MARK LEFFINGWELL
)

Fifth- and sixth-graders at 20 Boulder Valley schools will learn how to perform basic bike safety checks and signal turns through a new bike training program.

The three-hour curriculum was written by Boulder Valley School District educators and will be taught over four physical education classes. Students will spend about two-thirds of the time on their bikes.

Peter Hurst, the district's alternative transportation specialist, said the bike training program is one of several efforts this year designed to get more students out of cars and walking, biking or riding a bus to school. For students who live too far to walk or bike, he's encouraging carpools for younger students and public transportation for older ones.

About 30 percent of district students open-enroll, attending schools outside their neighborhoods. Those students generally don't qualify for district bus services and often are driven by their parents.

Before school started in August, the district sent a letter to all of its open-enrolled families encouraging them to find alternative transportation. Along with carpooling and riding public buses, the letter also pointed out that, if there's space available, open-enrolled students can ride a district bus.

Hurst also launched carpool maps at about a dozen schools using Google maps and a parent directory. Parents can see who lives close, then call and suggest a carpool.

"We really want to encourage them to figure out other ways to get to school," Hurst said.

Advertisement

To encourage students, he's planning to offer the "Trip Tracker" incentive program to 10 to 12 more schools. Last school year, three schools used the program, which allows students earn "dollars" based on the number of times they walk, bike, carpool or ride a bus to school. The dollars then can be spent at kid-friendly businesses.

Hurst said a third of families with participating students reported that they would have used alternative transportation with or without the program. But the other two-thirds of families reported that they cut their school trips in half.

At Boulder's Casey Middle School, Principal Alison Boggs said so many students rode to school last year that she had to add more bike racks. The school has an active bike club, and sixth-graders will get the new bike safety lessons.

"Students who exercise a little before they come to school, it really helps their focus," Boggs said. "And it really does help with traffic congestion in the neighborhood."

Another initiative for this school year is a districtwide Eco Pass program for employees to make riding the bus to work a more attractive and affordable option.

Boulder Valley previously participated in a 16-month Eco Pass pilot program, from September 2010 through December 2011, with faculty and staff members at nine schools doubling their use of public buses. The program was a joint effort of the school district, the city of Boulder and Boulder County.

But to offer the Eco Pass program districtwide, employees must chip in $60 each to help cover the cost -- and 2,000 of the 3,800 employees must sign up. To encourage more people to sign up, Hurst is asking local businesses to offer incentives. The YMCA, for example, is offering a free two-month membership.

"It's like a political campaign, encouraging those who signed up to get others to sign up," Hurst said.

Brook Bennett, a sixth-grader, unlocks her bicycle to ride home from Casey on Monday.
(
MARK LEFFINGWELL
)

Dye pours in 19 for TrojansSmothering. Confounding. And just a tad frustrating ... at least for the opposition.
Longmont's defense, whether they are playing a 1-3-1 zone, 2-3 zone or man-to-man -- and it can switch from possession to possession -- can give teams fits. Full Story

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story